Electric railroad-signal.



Patented May-20, I902. w. 0. VANDECAB.

ELEGTRIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

, (Application filed June 6, 1903.. (No Model.)

W J Y -z I I w .1? y :0, I n/ f- Witnesses- I Inventor- Attorneys.

TNE NORRIS PETERS 00.. PHOTQLITHO" WASHINGTON n. c

No. 700,46I. Patented May 20, I902.

w'. u. VANDECAR. ELECYTBIC'HAILBOAD SIGNAL.

I (Application filed June 6, 1901.1 v (No Model.) 3-Sheets-Sheet 2Witnesses. V invem r.

M K? 34W By %&

I Attorneys;

No. 700,41. Patented ma 'zo, I902.

- w. n. VANDECAR.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

(Application filed June 6, 1901.1

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

- Inventor.-

- w'llz'amflvzndeodn B y &% M

,Witne ssea Attorneys,

THE nonms'mim 0a.. moTamnm, wumum'n, 0. c4

' and within the block.

a citizen of the United States,. residing at PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. VANDECAR, or

ELECTRIC RAIL GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION formingpartf of Letters Faterit No. 700,461, dated May 20,1902.

Application filed June 6, 1901. I

To all whom it Indy concern: 1 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D.VA -;"D cAR,

Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railroad- Signals, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric railroad-signals; andits object is to provide means whereby various signals will beautomatically displayed to indicate that a given portion ofrailway-track, known as a block, is entirely clear of trains, that atrain is traversing thesame, or that two trains are approaching eachother on the same track Another object is to provide means forautomatically operating "suchsignals 'by electricity and to providethedevice with certain new and useful features hereinafter more fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My device consists, essentially, of an electric generator, a maincircuit, shunt-circuits to operate the signals and switches, certain andvarious switches and circuit-closers, and means for operating the same,as will more fully appear by referenceto the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a plan of the system for a single block; Fig. 2, atransverse vertical section of the track, a locomotive, and asignaltower; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a portion of the device, withparts broken away to show the construction; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail,in side elevation, of one of the circuit-closers located in the track;Fig. 5, an end view of the same; Fig. 6, an enlarged detail, in planView, of the device on the train for operating the circuit-closers; Fig.7, thesame in side elevation, and Fig. 8 a detaill'of the circuitcloseron the train to operate the bell.

. Like characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

A represents any suitable electric generator.

13 represents the positive line, and negative line, of the primarycircuit.

D is a shunt-wire extending from the line C the SerialNo; 63,451 (Nomodel.)

B and branched to form-various circuits, as follows: One circuit maypass from the wire D to and through the cut-out E. To open and close thecircuit at'E, I place a plug E upon the switch-arm I, from which it isinsulated, so that a current of electricity passing over it when incontact with the cut-out Ecannot but continue over the wire D to andthrough the bulb J, and thence to and over the wire D" to the negativeline 0 to produce a signallight at J. A second circuit passes from thewires D, over the wire D, to and through the magnet-coil G, thence toand through the circuit-closer H, and thence to the negative line 0,thus completing the circuit. A third circuitpassing from the wire D isextended to the terminal F, thence over the switch-arm I when in contactwith said terminal, to and over the wire D to operate the severalsignal-lights indicated at J J ,&c., which are intended to representcolored signal-lights, thence over the wire K, the switch-arm I. theterminal F when in contact with said switch, and the wire D to thenegative line C. A fourth circuit passes from the wire D, over the wireD", to and through the coil G,

thence to and through the circuit-closer H,

and completes the circuit over the negative line C. A fifth circuitpasses from the wire D, over the wire D to and through thecircuit-closer H", thence toand through coil G, and thence over the wireD to and over the negative line C. A sixth circuit may be taken from thepositive line 13, over the shunt-wire "K, to and throughthecircuit-closer H, and

to and through the coil 0", and over the wire 'Dlto' the negative lineC. A seventhcircuit 'may be taken from the wire K, over the wire K, toand through the bulb J, andthence to and through the cut-out E, whenconnection is made by means of the insulated plug E on the switch-arm I,and over the wire D t't'thettgauvt' line C to produce a signal- To avertthe danger of con-founding any colored lights with ordinaryswitch-lights, I use a bulls-eye constructed to showtwo colors-as, forinstance,an annular red light j with a blue center j, as indicated backof the bulls J J in Fig. 2. w

roe

The switches I and I are pivotally supported at one end and adapted atthe other end to contact the terminals F F when shifted toward the same,and also have the insulated plugs E E to close the cut-outs E and E.These switches are provided with centrallypivoted armatu res I" 1,adapted to oscillate and shift the switches and operated by theelectromagnet cores of the coils G G G G.

The circuit-closers H H H 11 have insulated spring-electrodes M and M,arranged at each side of a vertically-movable bolt N, extending upwardthrough the insulated plate S. Vertically adjustable on the bolt N is aplate 0, adapted to contact the springelectrodes M M and close thecircuit of the wires D D. Surrounding the bolt N is a spring P,whichdepresses the bolt N with considerable force. Pivoted to the upper endof the bolt N and engaging the plate S is a camlever Q, having asuitable flat face at the bottom and rounded sides, whereby said levernormally assumes a vertical position and when forced to an inclinedposition pulls the bolt upward and closes the circuit by bringing theplate 0 in contact with the electrodes M M. R R are slotted posts ateach side of the cam-lever R, which engage the outer ends of thepivot-pin R, connecting the said lever and bolt. These parts assist inkeeping the bolt from turning about its axis and also take a part of thestrain when the device is operated. To operate these circuit-closers, Iprovide an adjustable shoe T, pivotally supported in a suitable frame U,attached to a locomotive or car and provided with an arm T, connected toa suitable lever V by a rod V. A stop-pin T prevents this shoe frombeing lowered too far, and the shoe is so located that when lowered itwill strike the levers Q, located near one of the rails, when the trainis going one way and the other levers Q when the train is going in theopposite direction.

Suitably located on the train is an electric bell W, operated by abattery W, to which it is connected by a suitable wire X, forming anelectric circuit, in which is a circuit-closer Y, operated by anelectric circuit Z. This circuit-closer Y consists of a bell-crank 1,interposed in the circuit and having one arm adapted to close thecircuit by contacting a suitable terminal 2 and held out of contact withthe same by a pivoted armature 3, havin g a hook to engage the other armof the bellcrank and released by an electromagnet 4, having itsexciting-coil 5 in the circuit Z. This circuit Z is connected with thetrack at its negative end in any well-known way, and at the other end isconnected to the frame U. To perfect this circuit, the frame U, shoe T,and arm T are insulated, as indicated at U on Figs. 3, G, and '7.

The electrode M is connected to the track by the wire L.

The main circuit B C extends the entire length of the series of blocksand may be a circuit for propelling electric cars or other purposes.

Each block of the road is provided with the system shown in Fig. 1, andeach train, car, or locomotive, as the case may be, with the device foroperating the circuit-closers located in the track, and may also beprovided with the bell and operating appliances shown. It the bell isomitted, then the wires L may be omit-ted and the electrodes M adjustedto contact the plates 0.

The operation is as follows: In the diagram the parts as now adjustedindicate that a train has entered the block from the left and the shoe Ton the same engaged the lever Q of the closer II and momentarily closedthe circuit through the coil G. This has magnetized the core of saidcoil and th rown the switch I to the position shown, contacting theterminal F and connecting the negative wire K of the colored lights Jwith the negative line C and at the same time out out the white light J.This absence of the white light would indicate to a following train thatthe block ahead was occupied by a train going in the same direction, butthe colored lights J would not show because the wire D would still becut out. When this train leaves the block, it operates the closer II.This magnetizes the core of the coil G and throws the switch I, thuscutting out the negative wire of the colored lights J and closing thecircuit of the white light J. If a train approaches from the right, itoperates the closer H, and this cuts out the white light J and connectsthe positive wire D of the colored lights J. IVhen this train leaves theblock, it operates the closer II. This closes the circuit of the coil Gand throws the switch I to the position shown, thus cutting out thecolored-light wire D and again displaying the white light J. Thus atrain going in either direction cuts out the white light behind it whilein the block and restores it as it leaves the block, and also while inthe block cuts in one side of the colored-light circuit. It when a trainis in the block and running toward the right and another train going inthe opposite direction enters the bloek,this latter train would operatethe closer II. This would close the circuit of the coil G and shift theswitch I, thus cutting out the white light J and closing the circuit ofthe positive wire D. Both wires of the colored lights now beingconnected to the respective main circuit-wires these colored lights willat once be displayed at various points along the line, as indicated atJ, and thus every one on both trains would be warned of the danger of aheadend collision. For greater certainty two colored lights may be usedin each tower, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it one is disabled the otherwill show. In like manner it a train was in the block running to theleft and a train running oppositely should enter the block the latterwould operate the closer II. This would connect the negative wire of thecolored lights, and said lights would at once be displayed. In the eventthe bell Wis used, whenever the shoe T contacts a lever Q a current willpass through the bolt N, cam-lever Q, shoe T,

frameU, and circuit Z, thus magnetizing the.

core H of the coil 5. This would release'the bell-crank 1, close thecircuit, and set'the bell W ringing, thus indicating that the train hadentered a blockand suggestingobservation of the signal-lights. If forany reason it should become necessary to pass over a circuit-closerwithout operating the same, the shoe T can be raised by means of thelever V, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The circuit-closers shown in the track may be located elsewhere andoperated normally,v

if so desired.

It is obvious that by my device any known electrically-operated signalmaybe displayed in place of the electric lights shown'for use bydaylight without departing from my in-. vention.

Having thus fully described my invention,,.

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. Incombination with a block of railwaytrack,.an electric signal at each endof the block, a circuitand cut-out to operate each signal, a series ofsignals within the block, positive and negative wires to operate. thelast-named signals, a switch for each end sig nal to alternately connectthe same, and one of the wires for the series of signals, twoelectronlagnets at each switch to oppositely shift the same, electriccircuits for each magnetcoil, a circuit-closer adjacent to each endsignal and in .the circuit operating to open the circuit of said signaland to close the circuit of one of said .WlIGS, and a second circuit-'closer adjacent to each signal, and in the circuit, operating to closethe circuit of the signal at the other end of the block and i. open thecircuit of one of the said wires, and means for operating the saidcircuit-closers by the passageof a train, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric signal ateach end of the block, an electric circuit to operate each signal, aswitch to open and close .each circuit, an electromagnet and electriccircuit to openi each switch, an electromagnet and circuit to. closeeach switch, a circuit-closer in each of the circuits to operate the.switches, the two circuit-closers for each signal, being located atopposite ends of the block, substantially.

as described.

3. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric generatorandpositive and negative lines connected to the generator, anelectricsignal at each end ofthe block, a shunt-circuit to operate eachsignal, a series of signals within-the block and connectedinparallelbetweena positive and negative wire forming a shunt-circuit, aswitch for each end signal adapted to alternately close the endsignal-circuit and the circuit through one of said wires, shunt-circuitsoperating to shift the switch and close the end signal-circuits,circuit-closers in said circuits each located near theend of the blockremote from the respective signal, and shunt-circuits operat-' ing toopen the end signal-circuit, each'beingv located near the end of theblock-adjacent to,

the respective signal, and means for operating the circuit-closers bythepassage ot trains, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with a rail way-track,.a

train, signals, and electric circuits for oper ating thesignals,circuit-closers in said cir:

cuits and located nearthe track, said closers consisting of insulatedspring-electrodes, a vertically-movable plate to connect the same, aspring to depress the plate, and a cam-lever connected to the plate, anda shoe onthetrain adapted to engage the cam-lever and closethe.

circuit, substantially as described.

5. In combination with-a block,a train,

electrically-operated signals, and electric cir v cuits for operatingthe signals, an insulated plate between the tracks, insulatedspringelectrodes in the circuit and attached to the plate, avertically-movable bolt, a plate on' the bolt, a spring surrounding thebolt and depressing the same, a cam-lever pivotedto the bolt and havingarounded-lower end engaging the insulated plate, and a shoe onthe trainto engage the cam-lever and bring the plate in contact with theelectrodes, substantially as-described. i r 6. In combination with atrack, a train, electrically-operated signals, andelectric cir- IOOcuits to operate the signals, circuit-closers in said circuits andlocated near the track, a' shoe on the train engaging and operatingsaidcircuit-closers and forming a part ofan electric circuit, anelectric bell and circuit-closeron the train-whereby the bell iscaused-toring whenever the shoe contacts a circuitcloser near the track,substantially as'described. e

7.. In combination with a block off-railway: track, an electricalgenerator, a series ofelectricallyoperated signals at intervals with in'the block, a positive and-a negative wire to operate said signals andeach independently connected to the generator, means for con-"nectingand disconnectingeachwire t0 the generator, and operated bythepassing trains whereby one wire is connected anddiscon--- nected bytrains going in onedirection and the other wire connected anddisconnected by trains goingin'the opposite direction, sub- I stantiallyas described.

8. In combination with a block of railwaytrack, an electric generatorand main circuit,

a series of electrically-operated signals Within the block, a lineconnected to the positive side of the main circuit and to one side ofthe signals, a line connected to the negative side ot.--the main circuitand to -the other side of the signals, and means for closingitherespecfive lines as a train enters the respective ends Signed at GrandRapids,Michigan,April19, of the block, and means for opening the said1901.

lines as the said trains leave the track, Where- 7 1 by both lines areconnected and the signals WILLIAM X ANDBCAR 5 operated whenever twotrains approach each In presence ofother within the block, substantiallyas cle- VILLIAM A. SHAW,

scribed. ANDREW ALLGIER.

